Box supporting device



Aug. 31, 1943.

G. CARLSON ETAL BOX SUPPORTING DEVIC E Filed Aug. 2s, 1941 Inventors Geox-'ge Carlson. Edward B Clark by Mawlm Ther ttphney.

Patented Aug. 31, 1943 BOX SUPPORTING DEVICE George Carlson,` rrumbull, and Edward B. Clark, Milford. Conn.. assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 26, 1941, Serial No. 408,310

3 Claims. (C1. 248-300) t Our invention relates to box supporting devices and more particularly to a mounting bracket for` electrical outlet boxes, or the like, of the type utilized in wiring systems for buildings.

In Wiring buildings, it is customary to employ outlet boxes at points where the branch circuits are joined and likewise at points where it is desired to mount a wiring device, such as a switch or convenience outlet,A to connect it into the circuit. Such boxes are `mounted at any chosen convenient place in the Wall of theV building and are usually fastened to one of the studs forming part of the framework of the wall. In the case of new buildings, the boxes are frequently mounted in a position so that the front` of the box extends outwardy from the face of the stud a distance corresponding to the thickness o the plaster or other finishing material. This means that when the wall is finished, the front of the box is disposed in position flush with the outer surface of the wall. Arconsiderable saving of time and expense in mounting such switch boxes l could be eiiected if the box were provided with a mounting bracket designed to positively locate the box in proper position without the necessity of measurements. It is to this purpose that our invention is directed.

On the other hand, in certain installations, it may be desirable to mount the outlet box `in position flush with the wall of the building or other support on which the box is to be mounted. In such cases, the mounting bracket must be so designed that it may be readily adapted for use in mounting the box in position flush with the wall. To this end, our box supporting device is so constructed that it may be used to mount the outlet box either flush with the face of the support or in a position to accommodate the finishing coat of the wall.

The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved box supporting device or bracket so constructed and arranged that the box may be easily mounted in various positions depending upon its relation to the wall surface.

`In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of an outlet box provided with our supporting device showing the manner in which the box is mounted in position to cooperate with a finishing coat of the wall; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box supporting device; Fig. 3 is another perspective view of a box provided with our supporting device in which the device has been so adjusted that the box is mounted flush with the wall; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device adjusted for mounting the box flush with the wall; and Fig. 5 is a view showing one way of manufacturing the supporting bracket.

Referring to the drawing, we have shown an electric outlet box l0 provided with a supporting device or mounting bracket H for fastening the box to a support l2 which may be a stud forming part of the framework of a wall. Electrical outlet boxes of the type illustrated are customarily provided with a plurality of knockouts i3 in their side walls which are removed at an appropriate point to provide an opening into the interior of the box for receiving the wires to be connected to `the wiring device. Inwardly extending ears l are formed on opposite walls of the box for supporting such wiring device. for example, a switch or convenience outlet. The bottom of the box is provided with a plurality of openings I5 through which fastening means may be driven if it is desired to mount the box upon a flat surface. Alternatively, the box may be mounted on a support by means of the bracket H and it is to this supporting feature that our invention relates.

The supporting device or bracket I comprises a strap i5 of relatively rigid sheet metal fastened to one side of the outlet box in any suitable manner, as by protection welding. Opposite ends of the strap extend outwardly beyond the end walls of the box to form arms IT. Each arm is provided with one or more openings I8 which are adapted to receive fastening means, such as nails or screws. The arms l1 are off set laterally from the central portion of the strap fastened to the box by the inclined portions I9.

f' Projecting outwardly from the central portion of the strap at right angles to the arms l'l is a tongue 2i) provided with an opening 2| for receiving a suitable fastener. At the point where the tongue is bent outwardly from the central portion of the strap the metal is scored, as indicated at 22, so that the tongue may be broken oi and removed for a purpose to be described later.

Fig, 1 illustrates one manner in which our mounting device may be utilized to fasten the outlet box to a support. In the illustration, the support l2 constitutes a stud forming part of the framework of a wall and the box is to be mounted inposition so that the front of the box will be in alignment ush with the surface of the finish coat of plaster.Y In such a case, it issimply necessary to position the mounting bracket so that the arms I'l and tongue 20 engage adjacent walls of the stud and then fasten the bracket in position by nailing it to the stud through the openings I8 and 2|. 'I'he bracket is fastened to the side of the outlet box in a position such that when the bracket is laid up against the stud in the manner described, the front iace of the box will extend outwardly beyond the face of the stud a distance corresponding to the conventional thickness of the nish coat consisting of lath and plaster, for example, a distance of approximately one inch, so that the face of the outlet box is automatically located'in cor-` rect position; The space between the arms Il! and the side wall of the box formed by the inclined portions I9, forms a means of keying im the plaster adjacent the box. bracket provides a means for mounting the outlet box in correct position without thefnecesstyl of measuring the point atwhich it: should. be mounted to accommodate a finishing coat. This effects a considerable saving of time in installation. Moreover, it prevents incorrectY positioning of the box with consequent irregularities in the plaster finish. The box. is fastened to the. stud in a much stronger manner than usual in,- asmuch as the tongue and arms provide fastening. means on two faces of the support.

While our mounting bracket is particularly designed for use in installations, wherein the box.

is to be mounted flush with the nish coat on the wall, it is adapted equally as well for installation of the box flush with the outer surface ci a wall or support. This is the arrangement illustrated by Fig. 3. In such cases, the tongue' 2D' is removed by breaking it off' along the scored` joint 22' so that the arms il'may be fastened to the side of. the stud at any desired point. The tongue may also be removedin those cases. Where thev box is used with wall board or plaster thicker than usual; when the tongue is removed the' box can be positionedl'at any point relative to the face` of the. support.

Another advantage of our mounting bracket is. that it' may be manufactured from strip metal'` stock witho-ut the formation of scrap. As shown.

by Fig. 5, a strip of metal 23 may be fed" to' a punch press and. cut off along the dottedlines 23 to form a blank.. The tongue '.of thebra'cket is formed in. the blank'by the surfaces 211 which extend toward eachother in the form of a V. The tongue in oneblank is cut out of' the preceding blanksothat a recess 25 is left inthe strap4r as. finally formed'. This facilitates bendingofv At the same timefthat' the blank'to ii'nal form. the blanksarecut' ori of the stripstock, theyI are the scoredportions 212 are'orrned; likewise, pro"- j'ccti'onsh are'formed" at this time to facilitate" After the" welding the strap to the' outlet'box. blank has been cut and'iormed in' the manner described, it is' put in a press and bent to-iinal shape with the' tongueV 2t' extending` atright' angles tothe arms Il". Ifdesired', the metal joint" atv thescored'portions 22 may be lfurther weak enedto iacilitatevr removal of the tongue bythe provision 'of hol-es 21.

In this'mannerg' thel tongue 20 is givena substantia'l` width forming, in effect, a` plate.'v This' has' the advantagethat itv liesflat against the Our'. mounting..

punched'to form the openings i8 andi!! and Cil between the arms il and between the ends or" the box; if the tongue were to be formed adjacent the end of one of the arms Il, there would then be a tendency for the other arm and other end of the box to be tipped out of a plane parallel to the support.

Thus, with our invention we have accomplished an improved means for supporting an electric wiring' xturec'omprisingf a" boxfwitlr a side wall and a bracket.attachedv thereto. rIfhe bracket is made from a flat strip of metal by a punching and forming operation. It has two intermediate spaced portions I6 for attachment to an object to be supported, which portions are located in aplane and connected by a central portion or tongueifl" located; in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofthe intermediate portions or, from still anotherA angle., the central part of the bracket broadly constitutes a V-shaped strip memberwith the tip portion of the V bent perpendicular to the legs of the V. The outer portions o'r' arms form extensions of the intermediateportionsorlegs, each'arm being laterally offset from the end of' a legK and the two-arms' being alignedY and' located inl a plane laterally spaced from the legs or intermediate portions i6.

Our construction' provides a mounting bracketl by'which an outlet box 'may bequickl'y and'easily`v of: sheet materialin" a' punch press, it may be manufactured* at low cost.

What we'cla'im'as new and'desireto'secureby Letters Patent of the' United States is:

l. A bracketv made' fromv a metal'v stripA by a punching' andf'orming`- operation comprising a central portion essentially V-shaped with thepointedportion' ofthe-V bent forward to extendsubstantially at' al right' angle-tothe legs of the V', and" twoA aligned arms each formingv a con'-` tinuationof' aleg4 and' having a-l major portion adapted to besecured to the side walll of the' box, and`l two arms each forming' aI continuation orl aleg-'oi the V'and' being laterally offset therefrom; tlie'tip'of the V'and'th'e' arms being adapted tobe secured' to 'a' buildingA structure;

3i Supporting arrangement foranfelectric wir@ ing xture comprising a brac'l'iet having' two spaced intermediate `portions in a plane'- adapted toI be securedK to the side wallv ofan' outiet'box,

atongue substantially perpendicular' to said' plane unitingv the intermediate portions, and two arms eaclrbeing laterally osetfro-mand united;

witl'r an'l intermediateportion; said'- tongue and arms' being adapted to loe-securedl to' a building structure:

GEORGE'v CARESONI EDWARD Bi GLARK. 

